"That's right, then," said Jack. "Now we must get back to the cart. By George! it has taken us a long time. It's past five o'clock, and getting dark. Raining as hard as ever too!"
They trudged up the road and through the village, expecting to meet the rear-guard of the British infantry, or at any rate the cavalry. But there was nobody to be seen. They hurried along out of the village towards the spot where, in the gathering darkness, they saw the wagon still standing in the middle of the road.
"But where are the bullocks?" cried Jack, noticing that the shafts and rope traces were empty.
Hastening in advance of the men, burdened as they were with the heavy wheel, he came to the cart.
"Wilkes, where are you?"
There was no answer; nor was there any sign of the men he had left on guard.
"This is awkward, my men," he said, as the two came up. "The wheel's right, but those two fellows and the driver have gone off, and the bullocks with them. We can't move the thing without animals."
"The corp'ril wouldn't budge without he were sent, sir," said Plunket.
"Maybe the French have come up in the dark and captured 'em, sir," added Giles.
"Nonsense! the French were not so close as all that. I don't fancy our cavalry have gone by yet. You two fellows fix the wheel on. I am going back to the village to find a team. I sha'n't be long."